Chapter VIII
A TRIP
Brent Stockton's enemies, after that one last attempt, seemed to fadeinto obscurity. Work on the two planes went forward rapidly. If nothingelse happened to deter them the planes would be ready in ample time forthe races. Bruce and Gale were frequent visitors at the airport as wereall the Adventure Girls. The secrecy which, despite their presence,still surrounded the planes intrigued them. Then, too, there was alwaysthe hope of more excitement.
As the day for the races neared more planes began landing on theMarchton field. Pilots from all over the country brought their entries.
"It's going to be the most exciting thing that ever happened inMarchton," declared Janet.
"And I wouldn't miss it for anything!" Madge echoed. "Do you supposethere will be many entries in the parachute jump?"
A special woman's amateur parachute jumping contest was announced by abig yellow flag which blew in the breeze above the main hangar.
"Well, here is one who isn't going into it," Valerie declared vigorouslyand the rest laughed.
Gale was standing with Bruce while Brent warmed the engine of his SilverArrow, the black and silver plane.
"Don't forget you promised to take me up," she called.
He nodded. "Going to fly your father to Quebec tonight. Perhaps we cantake you along."
Gale shivered in gleeful anticipation. That would be better than a ridemerely circling the field.
"Do you think it is wise to go up with him in that?" Bruce murmured ashe walked beside Gale back to town.
The fall day was sunshiny and cool and they had decided on the walk torouse a good appetite for dinner.
"Why not?" Gale asked suspiciously.
"Well, you don't know whether the motor is perfect or not," he said."Suppose something went wrong. You might crash."
"Oh, don't be such a Weary Willie!" Gale said impatiently. "Brent is oneof the best pilots there is. Didn't he fly that anti-toxin up to Alaskato those Eskimos last year and save hundreds of lives? If he could dothat he can take us to Quebec tonight. He can handle his planeperfectly. Besides, he has already tested it."
"The race is tomorrow. You might not be back in time," Bruce added.
"Oh, yes, we will!" Gale said. "Nothing could make Brent miss that andyou know it."
"Just the same----" Bruce said uncomfortably.
They waited until the cloud of dust raised by a passing motor vehiclehad died down before they resumed their walk.
"You see a lot of Brent, don't you?" Bruce mused. "He takes you to themovies, out here at the airport----"
"Well?" Gale said with ominous quiet in her voice.
"It seems funny," Bruce continued. "And another thing--you areneglecting your studies. If you aren't careful you won't pass thecollege exams and then where will you be?"
Gale whirled on him suddenly. Her eyes were dark with fury, her cheeksblazed with color.
"If I flunk it will be my fault and nobody else's," she declaredangrily. "You don't have to lecture to me about it either. I'll do as Iplease--go where I please and with whom I please!"
Bruce merely looked at her when she whirled and set off down the roadalone.
Gale was in a temper. Bruce had added the final touch to a smoulderingconflagration. He was not the first one to remark on how she wasneglecting her studies, but his words had burst the dam of resentmentthat had been welling up within her. She was angry that he should try totell her what to do. His patronizing tone had set her aflame withself-justification. She tramped along, her eyes stormy, looking neitherto the right nor left. When Bruce stepped quietly into pace beside hershe did not look at him.
Gradually her temper abated somewhat. She could hear a few remainingbirds singing in the fields to her right. Birds preparing to fly southbefore the long months of winter. The last rays of the afternoon sunwere warm. She stole a cautious look at Bruce. He was watching theclouds overhead. Clouds like giant white sailboats on an ocean of azureblue. She frowned but this time not at him, at herself. After all sheneedn't have snapped at him the way she did. He was only trying to giveher some good advice.
"Bruce----" she began slowly.
He smiled at her. "I know," he said, "forget it."
The rest of the walk to her home was covered in complete harmony.
After dinner Gale drove with her father out to the airport. The SilverArrow was standing in the white light of the field. The searchlightcircled slowly. Numerous planes stood near the shelter of the hangars.
Mr. Howard had to interview a witness for a court case he waspresenting. It was important that he do it as soon as possible and whenBrent had volunteered to fly him to Quebec Mr. Howard accepted gladly.At first he had refused to consider taking Gale along but his daughterhad finally coaxed permission from him.
Gleefully Gale climbed into the cockpit and squeezed into a tiny cornerwhile her father took his place beside her. Up ahead Brent manipulatedthe controls. Stubby was at the propeller.
"Contact!"
The call was borne back to Gale on the wind. The propeller spun around.Slowly the plane taxied across the field, rising gently in the face ofthe wind. Once Brent circled the field, the bright lights, people andplanes below them like a miniature city, then he streaked away into thenorth.
Stubby watched until the bright searchlight could no longer trace them.The blackness of the plane had melted into the blackness of the sky. Themechanic smiled contentedly and made his way to Brent's private hangarto stand guard over the yellow ship. His boss' plane had responded toevery lightest suggestion of the controls. If everything went as welltomorrow as it had gone in the tests during the last few days therecould be no doubt that Brent would win the races and probably sell hispatent to the government. So Stubby mused on while he sat in the cockpitof the yellow plane and waited for the return of the Silver Arrow.